NELVANA & COMMISSIONED TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS RELEASE AUGUST 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. DIGITAL FILE DELIVERY - HD SPECIFICATIONS 2 2. DIGITAL FILE DELIVERY - UHD SPECIFICATIONS BROADCAST 3 3. DIGITAL FILE DELIVERY - SD NTSC SPECIFICATIONS FOR BROADCAST 4 4. ORDER OF EVENTS 5 5. CLOSED CAPTIONING 6 6. DIGITAL FILE DELIVERY FOR AUDIO PRODUCTION – DOLBY 5.1/2.0 7 7. PUBLICITY MATERIALS 9 8. CONTACT INFORMATION 10 9. APPENDICES 11 PURPOSE: This document describes the video and audio practices and technical standards for the delivery of Nelvana acquired and Corus Studios commissioned content to Nelvana and Corus Entertainment for international distribution and broadcast on Specialty and Conventional networks. GENERAL: The master copy of the program should be recorded directly from Licensor’s “master”. All program content should be recorded in accordance with standard industry practices and in accordance with the appropriate ANSI/SMPTE/ITU-R Standards and Recommended Practices. Credits should not contain any website URLs. All files can be delivered via Signiant, Aspera, or onboarded ad-delivery partner. Alternate delivery methods will need to be determined and agreed to on a case by case basis. Best efforts must be made to meet Corus Entertainment’s format specifications. Alternate file specs may be accepted only with prior written consent from Corus Entertainment and following the evaluation of a test file. Content distributors should anticipate a 1-3 week period to onboard and evaluate new file deliveries. Commissioned original content must be captured using an approved camera from the Corus Acceptable Camera List. PLEASE NOTE: The technical specifications outlined below are subject to change based on ongoing development. Please check with your Nelvana Syndication contact or Corus Studios network executive for delivery requirements prior to delivery. Page | 1 1. DIGITAL FILE DELIVERY - HD SPECIFICATIONS Apple Pro Res HD 4444 XQ Preferred. (Pro Res HD 422 HQ also Video accepted) Bit Rate 396 Mbps File type MOV Resolution 1920 x 1080 (progressive) 23.976 (provided this was the production frame rate. Otherwise native Frame Rate frame rate) Aspect Ratio 16:9, 1.78:1 Timecode Matching LTC & VITC, continuous, synchronous with video Time Code Start of Content TCR 01:00:00;00 Scenarist Closed Caption: *.scc file. Provided in both 23.98 and 29.97 Closed Captioning frame rates. Audio Stereo pairs, 48 kHz, 24 bit PCM recorded as: Ch 1 = Lt or Stereo Left Ch 2 = Rt or Stereo Right Ch 3 = M&E Left Ch 4 = M&E Right Ch 5 = 5.1 Left Ch 6 = 5.1 Right Ch 7 = 5.1 Centre Ch 8 = 5.1 LFE Ch 9 = 5.1 Left Surround Ch 10 = 5.1 Right Surround Ch 11 = Lt+DV (if no DV, duplicate Stereo Left) Ch 12 = Rt+DV (if no DV, duplicate Stereo Right) Ch 13 = Dialogue Stereo Left Ch 14 = Dialogue Stereo Right Ch 15 = Effects Stereo Left Ch 16 = Effects Stereo Right Audio levels must be mixed to -24 LKFS as per ATSC A/85 “Establishing and Maintaining Audio Loudness” standard. The official ATSC A/85 document can be found here (of key importance is section H.6.1 – Long Form Content). Corus/Nelvana will only accept High Definition material delivered with the following general specifications: A minimum of two AES/EBU audio channel pairs in a stereo or mono mix; including a clearly outlined audio channel description. Time code shall adhere to the SMPTE 24 specification, be continuous and synchronous with video. All time code references on submitted materials (VITC, LTC) must match exactly. Up-converted SD content is not acceptable. Exceptions will be made for stock footage of historical content. Aspect ratio must be noted and the Active Format Description (AFD) descriptor code should be left blank in the file. All files can be delivered via Signiant Media Shuttle or Aspera point-to-point. Alternate delivery methods will need to be determined and agreed to on a case by case basis. Credits should not contain any website URLs. Page | 2 2. DIGITAL FILE DELIVERY - UHD SPECIFICATIONS Apple Pro Res 4444 XQ Preferred. (Pro Res 422 HQ also Video accepted) Bit Rate 1591 Mbps File type MOV Resolution 3840 x 2160 (progressive) 23.976 (provided this was the production frame rate. Otherwise Frame Rate native frame rate) Aspect Ratio 16:9, 1.78:1 Timecode Matching LTC & VITC, continuous, synchronous with video Time Code Start of TCR 01:00:00;00 Content Scenarist Closed Caption: *.scc file. Provided in both 23.98 and Closed Captioning 29.97 frame rates. Audio Stereo pairs, 48 kHz, 24 bit PCM recorded as: Ch 1 = Lt or Stereo Left Ch 2 = Rt or Stereo Right Ch 3 = M&E Left Ch 4 = M&E Right Ch 5 = 5.1 Left Ch 6 = 5.1 Right Ch 7 = 5.1 Centre Ch 8 = 5.1 LFE Ch 9 = 5.1 Left Surround Ch 10 = 5.1 Right Surround Ch 11 = Lt+DV (if no DV, duplicate Stereo Left) Ch 12 = Rt+DV (if no DV, duplicate Stereo Right) Ch 13 = Dialogue Stereo Left Ch 14 = Dialogue Stereo Right Ch 15 = Effects Stereo Left Ch 16 = Effects Stereo Right Audio levels must be mixed to -24 LKFS as per ATSC A/85 “Establishing and Maintaining Audio Loudness” standard. The official ATSC A/85 document can be found here (of key importance is section H.6.1 – Long Form Content). Corus/Nelvana will only accept Ultra High Definition material delivered with the following general specifications: A minimum of two AES/EBU audio channel pairs in a stereo or mono mix; including a clearly outlined audio channel description. Time code shall adhere to the SMPTE 24 specification, be continuous and synchronous with video. All time code references on submitted materials (VITC, LTC) must match exactly. Up-converted content is not acceptable. Exceptions will be made for stock footage of historical content. All files can be delivered via Signiant Media Shuttle or Aspera point-to-point. Alternate delivery methods will need to be determined and agreed to on a case by case basis. Credits should not contain any website URLs. Page | 3 3. DIGITAL FILE DELIVERY - SD NTSC SPECIFICATIONS Apple Pro Res 4444 XQ Preferred. (Pro Res 422 Video HQ also accepted) Bitrate 113 Mbps File Type MOV Resolution 720 x 480i (interlaced) Frame Rate 29.97 fps drop frame 4:3 full frame or 16:9 Anamorphic where Aspect Ratio applicable Matching LTC & VITC, continuous, synchronous Timecode with video Timecode Start of Content 01:00:00;00 Closed Captioning Scenarist Closed Caption: *.scc file, DF. Audio Stereo pairs, 48 kHz, 24 bit PCM recorded as: Ch 1 = Stereo Left Ch 2 = Stereo Right Ch 3 = M&E Left Ch 4 = M&E Right Audio levels must be mixed to -24 LKFS as per ATSC A/85 “Establishing and Maintaining Audio Loudness” standard. The official ATSC A/85 document can be found here (of key importance is section H.6.1 – Long Form Content). Corus will only accept Standard Definition material delivered with the following general specifications: SMPTE drop frame time code is mandatory for all submitted material. Time code shall adhere to the SMPTE 12M specification, be continuous and synchronous with video. All time code references on submitted materials (VITC, LTC) must match exactly. Content originally acquired in high definition must not be delivered in standard definition. Alternate aspect ratios will be accepted only with prior written consent from Corus. Aspect ratio must be noted and the Active Format Description (AFD) descriptor code should be left blank in the file. SD content is not encouraged. All files can be delivered via Signiant Media Shuttle or Aspera point-to-point. Alternate delivery methods will need to be determined and agreed to on a case by case basis. Credits should not contain any website URLs. Page | 4 4. ORDER OF EVENTS FILE DELIVERY All long form program content must be recorded in this exact order: 00:59:30:00 75% SMPTE colour bars and 1 kHz reference tone (operating level of 0 VU) 00:59:40:00 Slate (include program name, length, episode number, episode title, production centre and audio breakdown) 00:59:50:00 Black 01:00:00:00 Program 1 minute of black is required at end of program, to be followed by textless elements (where applicable) The following items are mandatory with delivery of commissioned original programming: a. Minimum twelve (12) frames of black between program segments b. Timing cue sheet c. Commercial blacks (as noted above in part a.) d. Textless elements e. A minimum of ten (10) seconds of coherent black video with silent audio following textless elements When delivering the files please include the Graphics and Title package. Files relating to the opening and closing credits as well as any lower thirds or other onscreen graphics or titles. Delivered in their original form (ie: After Effects, Photoshop, or Illustrator) CONTENT FORMATS Corus English Content Formats and Duration Guidelines can be found here. CORUS ENTERTAINMENT AND GLOBAL TELEVISION END CREDIT/LOGO Check with your network executive for any questions regarding the “Produced in association with” end credit. SLATE The visual slate should contain the following information and match the content: 1) Title of program/film 2) Episode title and number 3) Name of post production facility 4) Date of recording 5) Duration of content (excluding blacks) 6) Audio channel description Page | 5 5. CLOSED CAPTIONING CLOSED CAPTION FILES For the Specialty Networks: Closed caption files can be provided via email to: [email protected] For Nelvana, Closed caption files can be provided via email to: [email protected] CLOSED CAPTIONING: Scenarist Closed Caption *.scc file, drop frame at 29.97 as well as a separate .scc file at 23.98 CAB STYLE GUIDE All closed captioning provided to Corus must conform to the Closed Captioning Standards and Protocol.